All in the Family

Clinton Collins suggests that all the littering in North Minneapolis is done by young, male African Americans [Free the Jackson Five!, May]. How does he come to this, dare I say, startling conclusion? The people in front of his house were young and black. Therefore, we shall presume his situation is universal for citizens of the North side. But of course this situation isn’t simply limited to this small demographic in Minneapolis. While living on both sides of town (as a result of shared custody), I have noticed trash everywhere. And not, as Collins would lead one to believe, just the areas where the African American population flourishes. Black kids do it, white adults do it. It is not a matter of age, race, or any other social category. When Collins claims that children of color use race as an excuse for littering, he does so without providing any clear proof. This unprompted rebuke of “black victimism” is very offensive, especially to those African American males like me who do practice cleanliness in our environment. I believe the issue my father wished to address is an important one, but his format for doing so was best described as a temper tantrum. He says, “I was mad as hell.” Sorry Dad, but you’re always mad as hell. You focus on a small percentage of people and unleash your unsupported opinions. To this I must say, “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout, Dadda?!”

Joseph Clinton Collins
Minneapolis Southwest High School